Sustainable Dietary Practices as Predictors of Healthy Living Among University Students in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State

This study assessed the relationship between sustainable dietary practices and healthy living among university students in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised undergraduate students from selected universities, with a sample size of 400 respondents selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and correlational analyses, at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that university students exhibited a moderate level of sustainable dietary practices and healthy living. The study further showed a significant positive relationship between sustainable dietary practices and healthy living (r = 0.55, p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that sustainable dietary practices significantly predicted healthy living (β = .55, p < .05), explaining 30% of the variance (R² = .30). The study concluded that sustainable dietary practices are an important determinant of healthy living among university students. The study recommended implementing nutrition education programs and providing affordable, healthy food options.